The curtains came down on the MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays Lagos on Saturday after four electrifying days of high-octane action that lit up both the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) and the University of Lagos (Unilag) Sports Complexes. As the final events concluded, a number of standout athletes left an indelible mark on the competition, with John Caleb, Bernice Onoriode, and Abdulaleem Abdulsalam emerging as multiple medalists and headline performers.
The grand finale was a fitting end to the competition, with a showcase of elite-level relay performances and individual brilliance across various age categories. In one of the most anticipated races of the evening, Team Continental delivered a flawless performance in the men�s 4x100m relay. The quartet of Thankgod Igube, Emmanuel Ojeli, Chidera Ezeakor, and Favour Ashe combined speed and precision to cross the line in a swift 40.81 seconds, holding off strong competition from Team Lagos (41.13s) and Benin Republic (41.96s), who settled for second and third respectively.
The women�s 4x100m relay was equally thrilling, as Team Continental�s lineup of Iyanu Bada, Janet Adesiyan, Temitope Olusesan, and Lucy Nwankwo dominated the track. Their cohesive performance earned them top honors with a time of 46.49 seconds, comfortably ahead of Team Tasued and the OAU Spartans, who rounded out the podium.
Among the individual stars of the competition, John Caleb added another feather to his cap by completing a sprint double in the Junior Men�s category. Having already won gold in the 100m earlier in the meet, he stormed to victory in the 200m final with a sharp 21.45s. Ezekiel Asuquo of Team MTN, who had impressed in the 400m earlier in the week, settled for silver with a time of 21.62s, narrowly edging out Eniola Shiro who posted 21.64s for third place.
In the Youth Girls� division, Bernice Onoriode proved unstoppable. She completed a memorable sprint double by adding the 200m gold medal to her earlier 100m triumph, showcasing both speed and consistency. Rebecca Enilolobo put up a strong fight to secure silver, while Goodnews Saturday finished in third.
Abdulaleem Abdulsalam stole the spotlight in the Cadet Boys� events with a dominant performance that saw him clinch both sprint titles. He clocked a personal best of 12.19s to win the 100m and returned to the track with even more confidence to secure the 200m gold in another lifetime best of 24.73s. Samuel Adegbuyi and Selim Bilaminu finished second and third respectively, unable to match Abdulsalam�s pace and poise.
In the Senior Men�s 200m, experienced sprinter Emmanuel Ojeli showcased his class with a commanding victory, stopping the clock at 21.14s. Oriyomi Akala (21.80s) and Gafar Audu (21.81s) battled closely for the minor medals. On the women�s side, veteran athlete Patience Okon-George once again underlined her pedigree by securing her second gold medal of the competition. After winning the 400m earlier in the week, she completed the double with a 24.11s finish in the 200m. Team MTN�s Miracle Uwem Donald came through for silver in 24.63s, just ahead of Mary Adediran who took bronze in 24.65s.
The Junior Women�s 200m saw a fierce battle as Hafsoh Bisola surged to victory with a new personal best of 24.61s. She narrowly edged out Lucy Nwankwo of Team MTN, who also registered a PB of 24.64s. Mariam Jegede of the OAU Spartans came home in third with 25.26s.
Youth Boys� 200m bronze medalist in the 100m, Mighty Otunla, upgraded his performance to grab gold in the 200m, leaving behind Muhammad Jimoh and Emmanuel Akolo, who completed the podium.
In the Cadet Girls� 200m final, Abigael Ogunbowale clocked 27.32s to emerge as champion, defeating Stephanie Obiekwe (28.16s) and Tomilola Ogbamola (28.19s) in a closely fought race.
Middle-distance action brought further excitement to the final day. In the Senior Men�s 800m, Hamid Sambo held his nerve and pace to outlast a spirited challenge from Olaitan Ayomide, winning in 1:51.70. Adedokun Ayobami took third with 1:54.51. In the women�s equivalent, Adeyinka Bamtefa-Mulero made a strong comeback from a break, clocking a season�s best of 2:08.90 to take gold. Fatimah Adebayo (2:11.27) and Temitope Olusesan (2:18.24) finished second and third respectively.
The Youth Boys� 400m final was another masterclass, as Ibrahim Ahmed cruised to a convincing win ahead of Hassan Olawepo and Ajayi Olubusuyi. In the Youth Girls� 400m, Chizoba Onyemauwa of Team MTN ran the race of her life, setting a new personal best of 58.40s to claim victory. She was followed by another personal best performance from Victory Aganya (58.80s), while Mfon Udoh secured third.
One of the last events of the competition, the men�s 400m hurdles, saw a dramatic finish as Olorunwa Olowu timed his surge perfectly to overtake early leader Sodiq Adebisi and snatch the win. Gbenga Bakre placed third. In the women�s 400m hurdles, Daisy Akpofa led from start to finish to take gold, with Sarah Kadiri and Oluwadamilola Esther Alli completing the medal positions.
As the MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays came to a close, it was clear that the competition not only showcased some of the best young athletic talent in the region but also served as a platform for rising stars to shine on a grand stage. With multiple personal bests, thrilling finishes, and breakout performances, this year�s edition will be remembered as one of the most exciting in recent memory.
